Authorities are pleading with boaties to wear their lifejackets amid soaring drowning numbers.
Coastguard New Zealand and Water Safety NZ made the plea as this year is shaping up to be the worst year for drownings this century.
As of October 31, fatalities in the water had already reached 75, outpacing previous years.
If that rate continued, New Zealand could end 2023 with more than 100 deaths.
Water Safety NZ chief executive Daniel Gerrard said people heading out on the water needed to ensure their boats were well-maintained and insist on lifejackets for the entire family.
Drowning is the leading cause of recreational death in New Zealand and according to recent data from Water Safety New Zealand, craft-related incidents account for 31% of those deaths.
Coastguard chief executive Callum Gillespie said a lifejacket never ruined a day on the water, but not wearing one had destroyed many lives.
"We have a simple message for all watercraft users, whether you're on a boat, yacht, kayak, jetski, SUP [stand up paddle board] — whatever your waka — ‘Just Wear It’."
Read Marine owner Latham Wardhaugh said there was no excuse to be out on the water with no lifejacket.
"There is such a range of vests and lifejackets, everything is catered for — there’s no excuse.
"Any activity on the water I wear a lifejacket and anytime I get into a boat I stick a vest on."
He said for children, the most important thing was fit.
"Kids can be all shapes and sizes, but the fit is crucial.
"People saying ‘he’ll grow into it,’ yeah nah, that’s not a good thing."
Every year Read Marine took part in a Coastguard initiative Old4New, where people can stop in and swap their old lifejackets in for a new one for a reduced price.
The Coastguard would be in Dunedin at the Read Marine shop on January 19 for locals to swap their gear out.
Mr Wardhaugh said swapping lifejackets out is important as some of the lifejackets were not safe any more.
"With some of the old kapok lifejackets they will sink you rather float you.
"Swap lifejackets when straps are worn out, the foam is deteriorated, or if you are not too sure on it any more. You should come do a swap and save some money."
